Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-12-30

them; but she had put temporary
check on their love-making, and that
was good deal in her favor-it gave
her time and chance to think and work.
II do believe he cares something for
me-" Lucia said, one day. "He pays
me great deal more attention than he
used TO-, and he doesn't neglect me for
Alma Marvin when she is with us"
Poor Lucia was not sharp-sighted
enough to see that he was only trying
to make Miss Marvin jealous
"And he asked me to go rowing with
him tomorrow. Miss Marvin is going
with young Davis"
The next day was beautiful one
and Lucia was in high glee as she
walked down the beach with Homer
Graves, just in advance of Alma Mar
win and her companion.
And Homer Graves, knowing that
the woman he loved was watching him
said tender little nothing's to Lucia st.
Johns, and was her "most devoted" oil
the time feeling bored, but determined
to show Miss Marvin that he could en-
JOY himself in spite of her GOODNESS.
And Mrs. Marvin was apparently I'M
concerned about anybody else in the
world except Mr.. Davis and herself,
thereby making Graves almost furious,
and really foolish in his demonstrations
to Lucia, who began to think there was
q prospect of his proposing before they
got back.
1t was late in the afternoon before
the two boats rowed shoreward. They
came up the little bay together.
Graves watched Alma Marvin closely,
but never once looked that way, evil
IDENTIFY absorbed by her interest in
young Davis conversation.
Just as they neared the shore, but
where the water was dangerously deep
how, no one knew clearly-Davis'
boat gave sudden lurch and the next
instant Alma was struggling in the
water. Her companion was too much
frightened to know what to do, and sat
there helplessly. The moment Graves
comprehended what had taken place
he plunged into the water and struck
off for the other boat. Lucia hung on
to his arm and begged him not to
leave her alone in the boat, but he paid
no attention to her words, his whole
thought was for the girl he loved.
Graves reached the boat just as Alma
came to the surface. Selling her in
his arms, he succeeded in rousing
Davis from his fright and made that
gallant young man help lift her into
the boat, and the next minute they had
reached the shore. The fright and ex-
element were too much for Alma's
nerves, and she was completely ex-
hausted when she reached the house.
Mrs. st. Johns, who had seen the &C.
cident from the house, and had sim
cerely hoped that the girl would drown.
met them on the steps in well-feigned
solicitude, and hustled about giving or
ders here and there and everywhere,
and assuming full control of matters
She got Alma off to her
room and put her to bed, and then
congratulated herself, as she might
have done under the circumstances.
Homer seemed to have forgotten the
existence of Lucia in his anxiety re-
garding Miss Marvin. Mrs. st. Johns
discovered this with her keenly jealous
eye. She stayed with Alma who, by-and-
by, fell into browse, which lasted until
late in the evening. You could have
told by seeing Mrs. st. Johns face that
dark and evil thoughts were at work in
her soul She was deathly pale. What
ever she was thinking about frightened
her. By-and-by she arose and went
noiselessly to her own room. She came
back presently, clutching something in
her hand. She bent over Alma and
satisfied herself that she was asleep.
| Then she shook q white powder from a
little pink paper, which her hand had
covered, into an empty silver pitcher.
which was standing on the table. Her
hand shook like leaf as she did it and
her face was like the face of one dead.
Presently Mrs. Cradle came in.
'You will tire yourself out" she said
to Mrs. st. Johns. "Let me stay here
while you so and rest awhile"
II don't know but what 1 will" Mrs.
st. Johns replied. "You had better &C
and get some water first, though. Alma
may want some when she wakes, and
there is none here"
Mrs. Cradle took the pitcher and
went out. coming back presently with
the water.
But Mrs. st. Johns fingered. She
seemed very 10th to go. II think she
ought not to sleep any longer" she
said. II will wake her."
She touched Alma's hand and the
girl awoke. "You were sleeping too
sounlly. I feared" said Mrs. ST. Johns